Any thoughts on my conlang?

[Sebastian.S.R]

I just recently got into linguistics and decided to try and make my own language. I hoped that my knowledge of two languages (French and English) would help a little bit, so here's what I've got so far. Oh, and thanks in advance for any responses.

Here's the alphabet and phonology:

Consonants

n /n/
h /h/ (only pronounced between vowels)
m /m/
f /f/
g /g/
s /s/
t /t/
b /b/
j /ʒ/
d /d/
ț /θ/
p /p/
k /k/
y /j/ (silent when in front of a r/l)
w /w/
š /ʃ/
c /t͡ʃ/
r /ʁ/
l /l/

Vowels

e /ɛ/
i /i/
a /æ/
o /ɒ/
u /y/
ē /e/
ī /ɪ/
ā /ɑ/ (nasal)
ō /o/
ū /ʌ/

Here's the morphology:

1ps- ni
2ps- nē
3ps- no
1pp- di
2pp- dē
3pp- do

Far Past- ba
Near Past- ja
Present- ji
Near Future- je
Far Future- be

Indicative- gu
Subjunctive- til
Conditional- fu
Imperative- šō (polite)/ ța



Example text:
pirnijitil sin frusdijetil
/piʁniʒitil sin fʁusdiʒɛtil/
[want-1SG-PRE-SUB PREP. run-1PL-NeFUT-SUB]
I want us to run

Here's what that looks like in the abugida I developed: http://i.imgur.com/7i45PJn.jpg

Syntax:

Sentence order- SVO (if the sentence is exclaimed, is becomes SOV)
Negation- 'not' added to the end of the sentence/clause
Questions- 'no,yes,how,who,what,where,when,why' added to the end of the sentence/clause
Adjectives and adverbs are attached to the end of the noun/verb, creating compound words
Articles are used only in formal settings
Syllable types- C(r,l)V(s)(r,l)


I hope you guys enjoy! I really enjoy doing this and if I could get some help that'd be greatly appreciated. I'm only 15, so I obviously have a lot to learn. Thanks!

[Koko]

Welcome!! The conlang commune welcomes you open arms !

h /h/ (only pronounced between vowels)

Does this occur across word boundaries? For example, would [hypothetical, of course] "Leto harpal" be [lɛtɒ hæʁpæl] or [lɛtɒ æʁpæl]?

Other than that, the consonants seem fine ^^

The vowels, however…

Vowels

e /ɛ/
i /i/
a /æ/
o /ɒ/
u /y/
ē /e/
ī /ɪ/
ā /ɑ/ (nasal)
ō /o/
ū /ʌ/

For one, as I've seen told for other people, it is extremely uncommon for a language to not have /u/, or at least [u] of some quality/quantity. Does /o/ have a range between [o~u]? If not, I'd like to make an example. In Cree, there are the vowels /a aː eː i iː o oː/. However, /o/ can be as high as [ʊ] and as low as [ɔ], similarly /oː/ is commonly realized as [uː]. You could then say that it is possible to rise /o/ in (un)stressed syllables to [u] (in your language). Languages tend towards filling the corners (to paraphrase linguoboy, I believe).

I like how the nasalisation of /ɑ̃/ is seemingly to distinguish //ɑ// from //ɒ//, but it's out of place, being the only nasal vowel. I would suggest adding more (unless one is okay???).

Syllable types- C(r,l)V(s)(r,l)

Does "s" equal sonorant? Also, a tip is that S = sonorant and L = liquid (your "(r, l)") [hope that's clear ]

I hope you guys enjoy! I really enjoy doing this and if I could get some help that'd be greatly appreciated. I'm only 15, so I obviously have a lot to learn. Thanks!

It looks great ^^

Hope I was helpful.

[Koko]

I would suggest adding more (unless one is okay???).

Looking at languages with nasal vowels, it seems they all have multiple nasals. You could change /ɑ/ to /a/ or even /ä/ (if you want the backness). Or if you want to keep it nasal, you could make other vowels nasal, like <ē> being /ẽ/ or <ū> is /ʌ̃/? Or both ?

[Ahzoh]

This language has a very French like vibe, especially the sounds and how they are spelled...
Is that your aim?

[Ashucky]

I would suggest adding more (unless one is okay???).

Looking at languages with nasal vowels, it seems they all have multiple nasals. You could change /ɑ/ to /a/ or even /ä/ (if you want the backness). Or if you want to keep it nasal, you could make other vowels nasal, like <ē> being /ẽ/ or <ū> is /ʌ̃/? Or both ?

Having only one nasal vowel is typologically unusual, but not unheard of. Many of the Iroquoian languages have just one nasal vowel. Cherokee, for example, has just /ə̃/ (and a long counterpart, as all other vowels).

[Koko]

Then I stand corrected ^^

/ɑ̃/ is actually the only real nasal vowel I like, btw.

[Sebastian.S.R]

This language has a very French like vibe, especially the sounds and how they are spelled...
Is that your aim?

Yeah that's kind of what I was going for.

[Sebastian.S.R]

I would suggest adding more (unless one is okay???).

Looking at languages with nasal vowels, it seems they all have multiple nasals. You could change /ɑ/ to /a/ or even /ä/ (if you want the backness). Or if you want to keep it nasal, you could make other vowels nasal, like <ē> being /ẽ/ or <ū> is /ʌ̃/? Or both ?

Yeah I was thinking of making all of the secondary vowels nasal.

[Koko]

That's a good idea

[Irkan]

Languages tend towards filling the corners (to paraphrase linguoboy, I believe).

Linguoboy has been telling the same to every newbie conlanger, I think.

Regarding the language, I think it's great, but I'd like to ask a few questions, mostly regarding your example sentence (I'll use numbers so you can answer easily ):

1) What is the preposition sin? Does it work like English to or is it a thing of its own?

2) Are all morphemes combinable? For example, is frusnibeța (run-1SG-FUT_FAR-IMP) a possible combination? If so, how would it be used?

3) How do you form negatives?

I have more questions but I'll keep them for now

Keep up the good work!

[Koko]

Languages tend towards filling the corners (to paraphrase linguoboy, I believe).

Linguoboy has been telling the same to every newbie conlanger, I think.

Well, now there's a new linguoboy in town, his name? Koko (hope he no mind)

[Sebastian.S.R]

Languages tend towards filling the corners (to paraphrase linguoboy, I believe).

Linguoboy has been telling the same to every newbie conlanger, I think.

Regarding the language, I think it's great, but I'd like to ask a few questions, mostly regarding your example sentence (I'll use numbers so you can answer easily ):

1) What is the preposition sin? Does it work like English to or is it a thing of its own?

2) Are all morphemes combinable? For example, is frusnibeța (run-1SG-FUT_FAR-IMP) a possible combination? If so, how would it be used?

3) How do you form negatives?

I have more questions but I'll keep them for now

Keep up the good work!

1 . It's similar to the french 'que'; it generally means 'that', but when used with a verb that is in the subjunctive mood, it becomes the english equivalent of 'to'.

2 . When conjugating a verb, one can (and must) have only one of the 'persons', one of the tenses, and one of the moods. One could theoretically have 1SG and IMP but that would be like giving yourself a command, and might not necessarily make sense.

3 . 'not' added to the end of the sentence.

[Sebastian.S.R]

That's a good idea

I decided to start this:

http://conlang.wikia.com/wiki/Gupac